Health service acts on coroner's findings into Gippsland woman's preventable death

Updated
Thu 1 Aug 2013, 10:26 AM AEST

The Yarram and District Health Service, in south-east Victoria, says it has begun implementing a Victorian coroner's recommendations after the preventable death of a 70-year-old woman five years ago.

Earlier this week, coroner Fiona Hayes recommended one of Yarram Hospital's former doctors, Dr Zafar Zafar, be investigated by medical authorities after he failed to diagnose the bowel obstruction which led to the death of Lower Carrajung woman Beverley Pattinson.

She also said the hospital should ensure all treating staff read patients' ambulance notes, something that was not done in Mrs Pattinson's case.

The service's chief executive, Colleen Boag, says it is carefully considering the coroner's report and the recommendations are being implemented.

She says the service will also fully cooperate with any investigation the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency may conduct into Dr Zafar but says he resigned from his position at the hospital in 2009.